Clifton County Fireworks (4 page)

“Why not? 
I’m fine, thanks to you.  Have you been ignored by people since you
returned?  I just saw Ginger and Molly, and they both walked right by me
as if they didn’t know me!”  She was hurt and hoped it didn’t show. 
No one at all spoke to her, in fact, and that was unusual.  Surely she wasn’t
forgotten so quickly?

“There’s no easy
way to say this, honey, but folks are gossiping about you.  They think
those men assaulted you.”

“What?”
 
Jennie Rose asked in horror.  “But
that’s not true!”

“I know it
isn’t, and I told those two girls it was a lie, but people just love to believe
the worst.”

“I won’t have
it!”
 
She stomped her foot in pure
temper, causing Johnny to smile.  “Why are you smiling?”
 
She demanded, putting her hands on her
hips.

“”Your temper is
showing a bit, honey.”
 
Johnny
grinned at her.

“I said I controlled
it better these days; I did not claim to be perfect!”
 
Jennie Rose informed him tartly.

“I wouldn’t want
you to be perfect, Jennie Rose.”
 
He
admitted, but before she could reply, another customer walked into the
Mercantile.  Johnny felt like cursing when he saw the heavy-set woman who
seldom had a kind word for anyone, and once again he remembered how hard his Ma
tried to please her years ago when she wanted a dress made for a wedding she
was to attend.  Nothing his Ma did suited the picky woman, and she’d done
her best to ruin his Ma’s business.  Fortunately, folks considered the
source of the complaints and nasty comments, and paid her no mind.  Johnny
still couldn’t stand the woman, and he wasn’t going to let her say one cruel
thing to Jennie Rose and let her get away with it.  He was no longer a
kid!

“Well, I do
declare!  I cannot believe you would have the nerve to show your face in
public, Jennie Rose Clifton!”
 
Marybelle
Peters looked down her nose at the petite redhead.  “You should be home,
feeling your shame and disgrace instead of subjecting the decent people of this
town to your presence!”

“Excuse
me?  What are you talking about?”
 
Jennie Rose turned to face the big
woman.  “I’ve done nothing to be ashamed over!”
 
She protested, hurt by the woman’s
attack.

“As if we don’t
all know what happened to you this morning!  Three men, Jennie Rose
Clifton!  Three men!  Outlaws!  Have you no sense of
decency?” 

The woman was
being malicious, and enjoying every second of it, and Johnny felt his temper
flare.  “Mrs. Peters, you are out of line, and if I wasn’t on vacation
right now, I’d arrest you for disturbing the peace…and for slander.  I
suggest you shut up right now, unless you want to apologize to Jennie Rose.”

“You try to
arrest me, you common hoodlum, and I’ll have the Sheriff arrest you!”

“That tears it.”
 
Johnny felt his temper snap. 
“You are under arrest, Mrs. Peters.”  Johnny took her arm, and then took
her handbag when she swung it at his head.  “Resisting arrest, too. 
I am going to set your bail really high, and count on Jacob not wanting to set
you free until the Judge comes to town!”

“You can’t do
that.  The Fourth of July picnic is almost here, and I am in charge of
judging the pickle contest!”

“That’s the
problem; you’ve eaten too many pickles and they’ve soured your nature.”
 
Johnny told her as he hauled her off to
the jail.  He grabbed the ring of keys, and it took him mere seconds to
put the mouthy gossip behind bars.  The Sheriff came in a few minutes
later and demanded to know what was going on.  Johnny told him succinctly,
and insisted the bail be two hundred dollars! 

“Son, Jacob
ain’t
got that kind of money, and I’m not going to spend a
whole week until the Circuit Judge comes with that mouthy woman in my jail!”

“Sure you are,
Sheriff.  I pressed charges.  They stand, and she faces the Judge
next week, and I guarantee she’ll be found guilty.  The only possible way
she’ll get me to drop the charges is if she goes to Jennie Rose and apologizes
profusely, and then she has to go to every person she’s lied to and gossiped
with, and tell it straight out that she lied about Jennie Rose.  I won’t
have folks treating Jennie Rose like she’s done something wrong when she
didn’t.  Until Mrs. Peters makes amends, she sits in jail.”  Johnny
stomped out and went to find Jennie Rose.

He went back to
the Mercantile, but she was no longer there.  He walked to her home, and
the housekeeper said she was still out.  Johnny realized that he forgot
his Ma’s thread, and went back to the Mercantile.  “Are you really going
to keep Marybelle in jail until she apologizes to Jennie Rose?”
 
Mr. McCauley asked curiously.

“You’d better
believe it.  And, if you hear anyone whispering about Jennie Rose, I’d
take it as a personal favor if you’d set them straight.  I don’t know why
folks are so quick to judge others, but Jennie Rose did nothing wrong, and if I
have to go up to every man, woman, and child in this town and set them straight
personally, I will!”

Chapter Four

“Oh my!”
 
Abigail took one look at her eldest and
knew something was wrong.  “Sweetheart, what happened?”

“I locked up Marybelle Peters, Ma.”
 
Johnny admitted, knowing full well he
might as well tell her the truth before someone else did.  To his
amazement, his mother actually smiled and Jeremy covered his mouth with his
hands and giggled.

“What did she do, Johnny?”
 
Jeremy wanted to know, his green eyes
full of lively curiosity.

“She was lying about Jennie Rose, and
that is slander.”
 
Johnny answered.

 
“Oh, dear.  I’m sure Marybelle is
not happy at all!  Why, can you imagine folks talking about her being in
jail!”  Abigail giggled.  “I shouldn’t enjoy this.  I truly
shouldn’t!”
 
She giggled again.
 She looked at Johnny, her lovely eyes full of amusement.  “Did you
remember my thread, dear?  I know that locking up dangerous criminals
takes priority over thread, but I really do need the thread to finish hemming
two dresses.”

“Here’s your thread, Ma.”
 
Johnny took the spools from his shirt
pocket and handed them to her with a grin.  “Thanks for not getting mad at
me.  That woman needs a good lesson.”

“You will let her out soon, won’t you,
dear?”

“Not until she apologizes, or Jacob
comes up with her bail.  My guess is that he’ll enjoy the peace and quiet
while he has the chance.”  His words set Jeremy’s giggles off again, and
he winked at him.  “What have you been doing all morning, kid?”
 
He asked, and listened as Jeremy told
him of his adventures.

********************

“Thank you for coming to lunch with me,
Daddy.”
 
Jennie Rose said with a
show of spirit.  “I am not about to let people think the worst of me, and
I’m so happy you agree!”

“I have been answering questions at the
bank all morning, dear.  Mrs. Peters is responsible for most of the
gossip, and I’m going to go and speak to Jacob after we finish eating.  He
needs to take that woman in hand.”

“You want him to spank her?”
 
Jennie Rose’s blue eyes were wide in
disbelief, knowing full well what her father meant by ‘take that woman in
hand.’

“He needs to take a strap to her fat
behind.”
 
Robert said firmly.
 “This isn’t the first time she’s spread gossip that isn’t true and hurt
someone’s reputation.  I won’t hold with it when it affects my
daughter.”
 
He declared, his eyes
snapping with temper of his own.

“She is in jail.”
 
Jennie Rose announced.  “Johnny
arrested her for slandering me and for disturbing the peace.”

“What?”   It was Robert’s
turn to be surprised.  “He did?”

“Yes.  He’d just finished telling
me that I still have a temper, and then he went and lost
his
temper
with Mrs. Peters, and hauled her off to jail!  Mr. McCauley applauded once
they were out of hearing!  He said that Johnny is still smitten with me. 
Do you think that could be true?”
 
She
wanted to know.

“You’ll have to ask Tanner.”
 
Robert smiled.  “I wouldn’t object
to his courting you, honey, if that is what you want to know.  I thought
you too young two years ago, but you’ve both grown up in that time.  I
would still like to invite him to dinner.”
 
He added, letting her know that he approved of Johnny.

********************

The Sheriff had been expecting the
mild-mannered Jacob ever since Johnny Tanner locked up Marybelle, who hadn’t
stopped talking and making threats since he put her in the cell.  “Jacob,
have a seat.”
 
He invited.

“Sheriff, I’ll come to the point. 
Is my wife locked up here?”
 
He
wanted to know.

“Yes, she is, Jacob.  Johnny
Tanner arrested her this morning in McCauley’s Mercantile.”

“I see.  What are the
charges?”
 
He asked, taking a seat.

The Sheriff explained the situation as
best he could, and saw Jacob’s eyes narrow when he told him the amount of the
bail, and Johnny’s stipulation for releasing Marybelle. 

Jacob got to his feet and said, “Do you
trust me, Sheriff?”

“Well, sure I do, Jacob.”

“Might I have the key to Marybelle’s
cell and ask you to leave for at least thirty minutes?  I am sure she will
be convinced by then that she needs to make amends for her behavior.  She
was warned by me not to jump to conclusions when we saw Jennie Rose ride into
town with Johnny Tanner this morning, but she drew her own conclusions and has
done her best to ruin that child’s reputation.  I will not tolerate that,
and she will make amends to Jennie Rose before this afternoon is over.”

The Sheriff handed Jacob the ring of
keys and said, “You can lock the door after me so you have privacy,
Jacob.”  The man nodded, and did just that before walking back to face his
wife.  It was long past time he took her in hand, and he figured that a
good half hour with his belt across her backside would see an improvement in
the way she treated people.

********************

Jennie Rose and Robert were ready to
leave the table when the door opened and Jacob and Marybelle walked
inside.  Jennie Rose could tell that Marybelle had been crying and she was
walking stiffly, as if in pain.  Jacob led her over to their table, and
Robert stood up, an angry expression on his face.

“My wife has an apology to make to
Jennie Rose, Robert.”
 
Jacob headed
off whatever Robert intended to say.  “Marybelle?”

“Very well, Jacob.  I jumped to
conclusions this morning when we saw you ride into town with Johnny Tanner,
Jennie Rose.  Apparently I was wrong, and I want to apologize for the
things I said to you in the Mercantile.  I will see to it that I let
everyone know I was wrong.”

“You certainly were wrong, Mrs. Peters.”
 
Jennie Rose said clearly.

“You may tell the entire room that you
were wrong, Marybelle.”
 
Jacob said
firmly.

“Jacob!”

“Now, or I will take off my belt again
and convince you.”
 
He promised.

Marybelle certainly didn’t want that,
so she obeyed her husband.  It was humiliating, but just the
beginning.  He marched her all over town, and finally ended at Abigail’s
Dress Shop.  “Oh no, Jacob!  I didn’t go in there.  I don’t
speak to that woman, ever!”

“You will certainly do so now, and you
will tell Marshal Tanner that you have met his terms.”  He opened the door
and pushed her inside ahead of him.  “Hello, Mrs. Tanner.  Is Johnny
here?”
 
He asked pleasantly.

“Why, yes.
 
He’s upstairs.  I’ll call him,”
Abigail offered.  She went into the back room, and called upstairs for
Johnny.  When he came to the top of the steps, she said, “Mr. and Mrs.
Peters are here, dear.” 

Johnny frowned, but he came
downstairs. 

“Marshal, my wife wishes to speak to
you.”

Marybelle gave Jacob a hostile look,
and she was already plotting different ways of getting even with him for
humiliating her publicly as he had.  “I have done as you asked, Marshal; I
expect you to drop the charges now.”

“Marybelle, you’ve earned yourself
another spanking when I get you home.”
 
Jacob scolded.  “And, unless you
want that spanking to happen right here and now, you will apologize
immediately.”

“Jacob, what’s gotten into you?”
 
She wailed.  “You’ve never been
like this!”

“I know, and I’m sorry I’ve let you
turn into such a hateful, spiteful woman.  You never have a kind word for
anyone.  Now apologize.”

Marybelle stomped her foot in
frustration, but did as she was told.  She didn’t want to be locked up for
the Fourth of July.  She loved the picnic and all the other activities,
and wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Johnny nodded, and once assured by
Jacob that she had apologized to Jennie Rose, he promised to drop the
charges. 

Abigail could see that the other woman
was near tears, and tried to offer comfort.
 
“We’ll see you at the big celebration in
a couple of days, Marybelle.”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Tanner, but Marybelle
will not be attending this year.”

“What?  Jacob, what are you
saying?  Of course I’ll be there!”

“No, you will not.  You are being
punished for the next few weeks, and that means you will not be leaving our
house without my express permission.  You are going to mend your attitude
and the way you talk to and about others, Marybelle.”

“But, I’m judging the pickle
contest!”
 
She reminded him, as if
he were completely crazy.  She’d done the judging for several years now,
and it was her obligation!

“No, you won’t be judging this
year.  You will be staying home all day and scrubbing the floors on your
hands and knees.”  He took her arm and said goodbye to the others in the
room before leading her away.  Marybelle was arguing and pleading with
him, and he simply ignored her.  She needed a firm lesson.

********************

Jennie Rose rose early, dressed in
pants again, and picked a different horse from the stables.  She also took
a gun with her this morning, just in case.  She knew better than to tell
her parent she was going for a ride, but it was something she enjoyed doing and
she wasn’t about to let her fears keep her at home and in her bed.  It was
a glorious day, and she was going to enjoy it.  She headed out of town at
a brisk pace, pleased when she didn’t see anyone out and about.  It was
very early, and the time of day she loved most.

Jennie Rose rode for a while, and
simply couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being followed.  She rested
her hand on her gun, planning to pull it quickly if she was threatened.  A
few minutes later, she was positive she heard someone behind her.  Terror
set in, she pulled the gun, and the very second the person came in sight, she
pulled the trigger!  When she saw Johnny Tanner fall to the ground, she
cried out in dismay, and rushed to get to his side. 

“Johnny!  Johnny!  Are you
all right?”
 
She demanded, shaking
him.  There was blood on the side of his head from where her bullet
creased him.  “Oh, no!  Johnny!!!  Please don’t die!”

“I’m not dead, you little fool!”
 
Johnny’s green eyes opened and she could
feel the fury radiating off of him.  “Why did you shoot?”
 
He demanded.

“I was scared.”
 
She admitted.  “I’m so sorry! 
Why didn’t you tell me you were back there instead of following me like that?”

“I didn’t know you were out here,
Jennie Rose.”
 
He declared. 
“This is a public road.  You don’t own it and you don’t have exclusive rights
to ride in the morning!”
 
He roared,
his temper blazing.

“You don’t need to yell at me, Mister!”
Jennie Rose smacked his chest, and then jumped to her feet. 

“Yell at you!  Little girl, I
ought to turn you over my knee and spank the everlasting daylights out of
you!”
 
He announced, getting to his
feet as well.

“You just better not try it, Johnny
Tanner!  I’m no longer a child!”

“No, you’re just a foolish woman who
damn near committed murder!”
 
He
told her.  “I could arrest you for attempted murder, and you’d go to
prison.  I’d think you’d be begging me to give you a spanking instead of
that!”  There was no way he’d send her to prison, and he knew it, but his
temper was speaking.

“You know perfectly well I was not
attempting to murder you!”
 
Jennie
Rose didn’t believe his threat of prison.

“Jennie Rose, you can’t go around
shooting at people just because they’re traveling the same road you are!”
 
He said in exasperation.

“You act like I do this all the time!”

“Even once is too often.”
 
He stated.  “I think you need to
have this impressed on you in a way you’ll remember.”  He reached for her,
but she danced out of the way.

“I’m not a child!  Don’t you dare
do what you are thinking, Johnny Tanner!”
 
Jennie Rose shook a finger at him.

“A child would have more sense.”
 
He growled.  He grabbed for her
again, and this time he succeeded in capturing her hand.

“Let me go!”
 
Jennie Rose screamed, and tried to fight
him. 

Johnny was used to dealing with
hardened criminals, and one little girl wasn’t going to give him a hassle he
couldn’t handle.  It didn’t take him long to spot a tree stump he could
sit on to haul her over his knee for a good spanking, and he lost no time in
pulling her over to it, sitting down, and flipping her over his thighs. 
“This, young lady, will remind you to look before you shoot next time!” 
Johnny brought his hand down on the seat of her jeans and her yell of outrage
and pain was satisfying.